Carrier strip fed socket terminal

ABSTRACT

A plurality of electrically conducting socket-type terminals are provided on a common carrier strip. The sockets comprise sleeves of conducting material which contain a resiliently expansible receptacle which forms a female terminal. Each receptacle is freely expansible internally of a corresponding sleeve. This is accomplished by providing a pair of opposed spring arms of the receptacle which are free to deflect resiliently toward and away from each other internally of a corresponding sleeve. Positive connection between a corresponding sleeve and a receptacle is accomplished totally externally of the receptacle in order to prevent undue constraint of its resilient expansion. Such a connection is accomplished by providing a tab integral with a non-deflectable portion of a receptacle, the tab projecting outwardly of the receptacle for connection to the enclosing sleeve. The free ends of the spring arms protrude outwardly of the sleeve to provide an enlarged flared entryway to the receptacle. The free ends are also exposed to allow visual inspection of their correct alignment. The ends are further widened to provide relatively large target surfaces for receiving and funneling the male electrical terminal which is to be connected within the receptacle.

United States Patent [191 Lemke et al.

[ 51 Nov. 25, 1975 CARRIER STRIP FED SOCKET TERMINAL [73] Assignee: AMPIncorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1974 [21] Appl. No.2 463,229

[52] US. Cl. 339/258 P; 339/17 C; 339/256 R [51] lnt. Cl. ..H01R 13/12[58] Field of Search 339/258 R, 258 RR, 258 A, 339/258 P, 259 R, 262 R,262 P, 276 SF, 17

C, 17 CF, 256 R Primary Examinerloseph l-l. McGlynn AssistantExaminer-James W. Davie Attorney, Agent, or FirmGerald K. Kita [57]ABSTRACT A plurality of electrically conducting socket-type terminalsare provided on a common carrier strip. The sockets comprise sleeves ofconducting material which contain a resiliently expansible receptaclewhich forms a female terminal. Each receptacle is freely expansibleinternally of a corresponding sleeve. This is accomplished by providinga pair of opposed spring arms of the receptacle which are free todeflect resiliently toward and away from each other internally of acorresponding sleeve. Positive connection between a corresponding sleeveand a receptacle is accomplished totally externally of the receptacle inorder to prevent undue constraint of its resilient expansion. Such aconnection is accomplished by providing a tab integral with anon-dcflectable portion of a receptacle, the tab projecting outwardly ofthe receptacle for connection to the enclosing sleeve. The free ends ofthe spring arms protrude outwardly of the sleeve to provide an enlargedflared entryway to the receptacle. The free ends are also exposed toallow visual inspection of their correct alignment. The ends are furtherwidened to provide relatively large target surfaces for receiving andfunneling the male electrical terminal which is to be connected withinthe receptacle.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet 1 of23,922,057

CARRIER STRIP FED SOCKET TERMINAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to connection of electrical circuit elementsto a printed circuit board. The circuit elements usually are providedwith projecting electrical leads which are plugged into apertures of theprinted circuit board and soldered in place to make permanentconnections. However it is often desired that circuit elements bemounted to a printed circuit board by resilient socket connections toenable removal of the circuitelements for repair or replacement. Varioustypes of electrical receptacles have been heretofore utilized. Someproject above the printed circuit board and are secured within aperturesof the printed circuit board by depending posts. Others take the form ofsockets containing resilient receptacles therein, the sockets beingadvantageously of minimal height when mounted within correspondingapertures of the printed circuit board. The miniature size required ofsuch sockets makes them difficult to handle. Since each socket is in theform of an expansible electrical receptacle contained within a sleeve orcup,it has been heretofore difficult to inspect the receptacle fordefects or damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION The present invention contemplates fabricatingindividual sockets along a common carrier strip in desired spacedrelationship for ease in handling and assembly of the sockets withincorrespondingly spaced apertures of a printed circuit board. The presentinventionprovides a receptacle'which partially protrudes from theenclosing sleeve or cup to present the working parts of the receptaclevisually available for inspection. In addition an enlarged funnel entryis provided for the receptacle by the exposed working parts thereof.Also an enlarged surface target area is made available for receipt andfunneling of an electrical lead or male terminal into the receptacle. Toinsure unconstrained resilient expansionof the receptacle upon receiptof an electrical lead or male electrical terminal, the receptacle isfreely received in the enclosing sleeve or cup, and attachment to thecup is accomplished by at least one, and preferably a pair of,projecting tabs which are integral with a nonexpansible portion of thereceptacle and which project outwardlyfrom the confines of thereceptacle for connection to the sleeve or cup. Typically such aconnection comprises a portion of the lip of the sleeve or cup beingfolded over into gripped relationship on the end of the projecting tabor tabs. Accordingly the receptacle is suspended within the cup orsleeve for relatively unrestricted resilient expansion.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a socket-type electrical connector of miniaturesize containing a resiliently expansible electrical receptacle having aseparate projecting tab for connection of the receptacle to the sleeve,and with the portion of the receptacle being frangibly connected independing relationship from the carrier strip.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a resilientlyexpansible-electrical receptacle of miniature size within an enclosingmetal sleeve, the receptacle being connected to the sleeve by at leastone tab portion integral with and projecting outwardly of anonexpansible portion of the receptacle for retention against a portionof the sleeve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a socket-typeelectrical terminal of-miniature size having an outer metal sleevecontaining a resiliently expansible electrical receptacle which isretained in suspended relationship within the confines of the sleeve bytab portions integral with the receptacle and connected I handling. r

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentaryperspective of a printed circuit board and a plurality of socket-typeelectrical terminals according to the present invention with one row ofthe receptacles being mounted within corresponding apertures of aprinted circuit board, and with an additional row of terminals shown inexploded configuration from the printed circuit board and attached to acommon carrier strip.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken along the lines -22 of FIG. 1. v

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan of a metal blank of an electrical receptacleaccording to the present invention prior to formation of the blank intoa receptacle configuration.

FIG. 5 is a section similar to that of FIG. 3 of an alternativeembodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With particular reference to the drawings there isshown in FIG. 1 a plurality of discrete socket-typeelectrical terminals1 according to the present invention mounted within correspondingapertures provided in a printed circuit board 4. An additional row ofterminals 1 are illustrated in depending relationship from a carrierstrip 6 which is utilized to convey and locate the row of terminals 1 ina desired spaced relationship corresponding to that of the row ofapertures 2' provided in the printed circuit board 4. The terminals 1are then received in the corresponding apertures 2'. Subsequently thecarrier strip 6 is frangibly detached after mounting and soldering ofthe terminal in place within the printed circuit board;

The details of a examplary terminal 1 is illustrated with reference toFIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Each terminal 1 includes a generally cylindrical cup8 of metal which is made by drawing, for example, to provide a bottomwall 10 and a cup sidewall having an outwardly flared and enlargedcircular lip 12. Alternatively the cup may have its bottom wall 10removed as for example along the dotted outline 14 in order to provide agenerally cylindrical sleeve instead of a cup having a bottom wall. Thecup or sleeve contains an electrical receptacle 16, the blank of which16 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The receptacle is advantageously fabricatedby stamping and forming the blank 16' from metal strip. The receptacleincludes a pair of elongated resilient spring arms 18, which areintegral with one another at first ends and which have free ends 20. Forexample, one of the free ends 20 is frangibly attached by a frangiblyseparated stem 22 to the carrier strip 6 as shown in FIG. I. Thereceptacle further includes at least one and preferably a pair ofprojecting tab portions 24 which are integral generally with theintersecting integral portions of the arms 18. The free ends of the tabportions 26 are generally widened as'shown in FIG. 4.

In addition the spring arms 18 generally taper from their integralintersecting portions toward their free ends to reduce stiffness andresistance to resilient deflection, However the free ends are abruptlywidened to provide an enlarged surface area thereto for a purpose to bedescribed.

The resilient arms 18 of the blank are formed into opposing relationshipin generally a U-shape as shown in FIG. 2. As shown the .U-shapedconfiguration is freely received within the confines of the sleeve orcup 8 and the arms 18 are generallyin opposed relationship, angledgenerally toward each other to define a reduced throat area 28 adjacentthe enlarged surfaced free ends 20 thereof. In addition the enlargedsurface ends 20 are generally within the confines of the enlargedopening to the sleeve or cup 8 defined by the flared lips 12. The ends20 accordingly are permitted to be formed in diverging angledrelationship to provide a funneled entrance to the reduced throat area28. As shown the reduced throat area 28 is advantageously adjacent thefree ends 20 and in substantial spaced relationship from the integrallyjoined ends of the spring arms 18. When a male terminal or electricallead is inserted in the throat area 28, the lead will bias apart thespring arm 18 by cantilever deflection, permitting resilient outwardexpansion of the receptacle 16. Substantial resilient spring forces areproduced by deflecting the spring arms 18 to provide a gripping actionon the inserted lead or terminal. Such forces are proportional to thelengths of the spring arms from where they are supported mutuallyattheir endsto the reduced throat area i 28 at which the deflection forcesare applied by the inser ted lead or terminal. The receptacle issuspended within the confines of the cup or sleeve 8 and is thus allowedtoexpand freely in response to insertion of a lead or terminal therein.More particularly the receptacle is freely received within the cup orsleeve 8 and is retained by at least one and preferably apair of tabportions 24 which, as shown in FIG. 3, are formed into a U-shapedconfiguration with the widened ends 26 being outwardly flared in receiptagainst the outwardly flared lip 12 of the sleeve. or cup 8. As shownthe tab portions 24 are in opposed relationship and project uoutwardlyofwthe receptacle formed by the opposed spring arms 18. The bottomportion of the U-shape formed by the spring arms 24 is in registrationgenerally against the bottom if member 8 is a cup. The end 1 portions 26are retained ;under flap portions 29 integral with theoutwardly flaredlip 12. The tab portions being portions 24 may each be provided with aformed projecting dimple 30 for registration against the cylindricalsidewall of the cup or sleeve 8, force-fitting the opposed flap portionsin the sleeve or cup. Such registration further serves to retain thereceptacle and also to center the receptacle within the sleeve or cup 8.

As a further feature of the present invention, the enlarged surfaceareas of the spring arm ends 20.may project slightly outwardly of theflared lip 12. Such a configuration provides an enlarged target for.receiving and guiding the male terminal or lead for insertion within thecorresponding receptacle. In addition the,

enlarged sizes of the ends 20 as well as their projecting configurationallows for visual inspection of the recep-' tacle. More particularly dueto the miniature size of the receptacle, the visual portion of thereceptacle is greatly enlarged and partially protrudes for ease invisual inspection for damage or misalignment of the receptacle.

Although preferred embodiments and modifications of the presentinvention are illustrated and described in detail other modificationsand embodiments are intended to be covered by the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim: I

1. A socket terminal, comprising:

an outer metal enclosing container means having at least one enlargedopen end defined by an encircling and outwardly flared lip,

an electrical receptacle in said container means defined by a pair ofopposed elongated spring arms intersecting and integral with each otherat respective first ends,

a pair of tab portions integral with said intersecting ends of saidspring arms and projecting outwardly of said receptacle but within theconfines of said container means, i

said tabs havingfree ends engaging and secured to said lip of saidcontainer means suspending said receptacle within said container means,

said opposed spring arms forming generally a U- shaped receptacle andconverging toward second free ends thereof and defining a reducedthroatfor said receptacle within and adjacent said encircling lip ofsaid container,

said second free ends outwardly diverging from said throat defining afunnel entry at said throat,

said second free ends being widened to define enlarged surface targetareas at said funnel entry, and

said outwardly diverging second free ends overlying and in spacedrelationship from said outwardly flared lip of said container means,whereby said spring arms are capable of resilient cantilever deflectionaway from each other.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said outwardlydiverging ends project outwardly of the confines of said flared lipthereby projecting said target areas outwardly of said lip and allowingfor visual in.-'

spection of said receptacle. b 3. The structure as recited in claim 1and further including: I

a carrier strip, and a stem portion of said carrier strip frangiblyattached to one of said second free ends of said spring arms. 4. Thestructure as recited in claim 1 and further including:

flap portions on said outwardly flared lip, said second free ends ofsaid tabs being gripped under said flap portions.

5. The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including:

projecting dimple means on said tab portions engageable against saidcontainer means force fitting the opposed tab portions in said containermeans.

1. A socket terminal, comprising: an outer metal enclosing containermeans having at least one enlarged open end defined by an encircling andoutwardly flared lip, an electrical receptacle in said container meansdefined by a pair of opposed elongated spring arms intersecting andintegral with each other at respective first ends, a pair of tabportions integral with said intersecting ends of said spring arms andprojecting outwardly of said receptacle but within the confines of saidcontainer means, said tabs having free ends engaging and secured to saidlip of said container means suspending said receptacle within saidcontainer means, said opposed spring arms forming generally a U-shapedreceptacle and converging toward second free ends thereof and defining areduced throat for said receptacle within and adjacent said encirclinglip of said container, said second free ends outwardly diverging fromsaid throat defining a funnel entry at said throat, said second freeends being widened to define enlarged surface target areas at saidfunnel entry, and said outwardly diverging second free ends overlyingand in spaced relationship from said outwardly flared lip of saidcontainer means, whereby said spring arms are capable of resilientcantilever deflection away from each other.
 2. The structure as recitedin claim 1, wherein, said outwardly diverging ends project outwardly ofthe confines of said flared lip thereby projecting said target areasoutwardly of said lip and allowing for visual inspection of saidreceptacle.
 3. The structure as recited in claim 1 and furtherincluding: a carrier strip, and a stem portion of said carrier stripfrangibly attached to one of said second free ends of said spring arms.4. The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including: flapportions on said outwardly flared lip, said second free ends of saidtabs being gripped under said flap portions.
 5. The structure as recitedin claim 1 and further including: projecting dimple means on said tabportions engageable against said container means force fitting theopposed tab portions in said container means.